Ahead of the 2019 general elections, Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has said that his life and those of members of family are in danger.

Saraki, who raised the alarm at a press briefing in Abuja, on Friday, said the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, should be held responsible if anything untoward happens to him or any member of his family.

He said in the run-up to the general elections, the police had continued to show undisguised hostility towards him and his supporters in Kwara State.

According to him, the security agencies in Kwara have allegedly been giving cover to some persons who are unleashing violence on his supporters.

He noted that “this latest round of violence is part of efforts to jeopardise and undermine my personal security and that of my immediate and larger family.”

Saraki, who is also the Director General of the PDP presidential campaign, said this is because those against him were surprised that the people of the state had continued to give massive and overwhelming support to the opposition party across the state.

-Sun

]]>http://newnigerianpolitics.com/2019/01/11/2019-my-life-in-danger-saraki-cries-out/feed/0a:7:{s:4:"lang";s:2:"en";s:8:"keywords";s:53:"general,said,saraki,family,state,2019,abuja,continued";s:19:"keywords_autoupdate";i:1;s:11:"description";s:154:"general elections, Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has said that his life and those of members of family are in danger. Saraki, who raised the alarm at a";s:22:"description_autoupdate";i:1;s:5:"title";s:0:"";s:6:"robots";s:12:"index,follow";}13 political parties endorse Obahiagbon for Senatehttp://newnigerianpolitics.com/2018/12/26/13-political-parties-endorse-obahiagbon-for-senate/
http://newnigerianpolitics.com/2018/12/26/13-political-parties-endorse-obahiagbon-for-senate/#respondWed, 26 Dec 2018 15:11:51 +0000http://newnigerianpolitics.com/?p=51710

Tony Osauzo, Benin

Ahead of next year’s general elections, 13 political parties in Edo State under the banner of Progressives Registered Political Parties (PRPP), have adopted Hon. Patrick Obahiagbon and Mr. Washington Osifo as their candidates.

Obahiagbon and Osifo are candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC), seeking to represent Edo South senatorial district in the Senate and Uhunmwode Constituency in the Edo State House of Assembly, respectively.

Announcing their adoption, spokesman for the PRPP, Comrade Ogbodu Orlando, who is also state Chairman of Independent Democrats (ID), said they had followed Obahiagbon political career and were happy with the APC.

“We stand here today to adopt Hon. Patrick Obahiagbon for Edo South Senatorial district and Hon. Washington Osifo for the House of Assembly.

“We believe in Obahiagbon because we have watched his antecedents from being a councilor to the state House of Assembly and the House of Representatives. We all believe in him and know that he can perform,” he said.

Responding, Obahiagbon praised them for making democracy to thrive and assured them that the joint partnership would be cultivated and the dividends of democracy delivered.

“I am delighted to have been endorsed by 13 vibrant political parties. They decided to, on their own, adopt my candidacy for Edo South senatorial district and Hon Washington Osifo for Uhunmwode constituency in the state House of Assembly.‎

“It shows we are popular outside our party. These are popular people and we know that this will translate to victory for us in the February elections,” he said.

-Sun

]]>http://newnigerianpolitics.com/2018/12/26/13-political-parties-endorse-obahiagbon-for-senate/feed/0a:7:{s:4:"lang";s:2:"en";s:8:"keywords";s:55:"obahiagbon,edo,house,state,assembly,hon,osifo,political";s:19:"keywords_autoupdate";i:1;s:11:"description";s:155:"Obahiagbon and Mr. Washington Osifo as their candidates. 2019: Obahiagbon, Sen. Urhoghide trade blames over billboards destruction Obahiagbon and Osifo are";s:22:"description_autoupdate";i:1;s:5:"title";s:0:"";s:6:"robots";s:12:"index,follow";}Video: Choas in National Assembly at budget presentation as Buhari is whisked awayhttp://newnigerianpolitics.com/2018/12/20/visdeo-choas-in-national-assembly-at-budget-presentation-as-buhari-is-whisked-away/
http://newnigerianpolitics.com/2018/12/20/visdeo-choas-in-national-assembly-at-budget-presentation-as-buhari-is-whisked-away/#respondThu, 20 Dec 2018 12:30:40 +0000http://newnigerianpolitics.com/?p=51692As soon as Buhari concluded his speech, the session turned rowdy again. It was time for Saraki and Dogara to present their speeches but while APC lawmakers chanted ‘four more years,’ their PDP counterparts screamed, ‘no more years.’

After more than 10 minutes into the drama, the Presidential Guards Brigade band suddenly to play the National Anthem, even while Buhari was still seated.

The anthem marked the end of the ceremony, with Saraki and Dogara yet to present their speeches.

Security operatives whisked the President out of the chamber leaving the lawmakers behind.

National Assembly, workers made good their threat to shut down the third arm of government, yesterday, in protest against unpaid salaries and eight-year-old backlog of allowances and non-promotion by the management.

The protesting staff shut down both chambers of the parliament, and effectively prevented Senate President, Bukola Saraki and Speaker Yakubu Dogara from convening plenary.

They also prevented some lawmakers, including the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, from accessing the chamber, threatening that until they are paid, the National Assembly won’t sit.

For over five minutes, Ekweremadu tried, without success, to convince the protesting staff. His pleas were rebuffed. Thereafter, Ekweremadu accessed his office through another route.

Saraki got into the building at about 10.25am but was advised to boycott the White House, which houses both chambers of the National Assembly.

Hours into the protest, Saraki resurfaced at the lobby of the White House where he addressed the aggrieved staff.

Using a public address system, Saraki promised to look into their challenges and promised to hold a meeting with the management, where the issues would be resolved.

Saraki’s assurance was met with shouts of ‘No! We want our money!”

His voice was drowned by the protesters, who vowed not to end the siege until their demands were meant.

On charting ways for implementation of CONLESS, Saraki asked the workers to give the management till Friday.

“Let me assure you that we are on the same page to ensure the implementation. We are not in direct control of the issue but we have asked your leadership to give us from now till Friday.”

The timeline, however, was not in agreement with the workers who insisted deliberations and decisions come earlier than Friday.

“What I am committing to you, alongside the leadership, is that we must find money to ensure the implementation of your demand. But, for us to find a solution, we must be able to sit down and hold a meeting.

“If you allow us, the report on the condition of service will be considered immediately by the two chambers so that we can pass that immediately. We want to meet with you and communicate to you on the way forward but for that to happen, we must be able to sit.”

Immediately, the workers began to shout: “No alert, no sitting!” which meant lawmakers would not be allowed to sit in plenary until their demands are met.

In a joint statement, thereafter, Saraki and Dogara, directed the National Assembly management Committee, headed by the Clerk, Alhaji Sani Omolori, to resolve all issues raised by the protesting members of staff and report back to them by Friday.

Saraki’s Special Adviser (Media and Publicity), Yusuph Olaniyonu, said in the statement that, at a meeting attended by the management and staff under the umbrella of the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN), the senate president and the speaker, who addressed the meeting, on behalf of the leadership of both chambers, said it is important for the workers to be well-motivated and their demands properly addressed; in order to create a conducive atmosphere for the legislature to perform its duties.

The senate president and speaker noted that the demands of the workers are part of the responsibilities of the National Assembly’s management and that the grievances of the workers should not be allowed to linger.

Hitherto, the protesters took strategic positions at about 8:00 am when, over 200 staff stormed the entrances leading to the two chambers with placards, with different inscriptions.

Some protesters called for the removal of the Clerk to the National Assembly, Mohammed Sani-Omolori. They claimed that the Clerk is due for retirement, but refused to proceed on his terminal leave.

One of the protesters told Daily Sun that arrears of over 10 years had not been paid. The protester, who identified himself as simply Sule, said salaries are also being owed, while promotions are delayed. He said the picketing will not end until their demands are meant.

In his response, Sani-Omolori said: “It is a matter that has been on for some time now and, we have tried to explain to them. We approved salary increase for them, which was captured in 2the 018 budget but, as it is today, it is a common knowledge that the level of implementation of the 2018 budget, especially the new addition to the National Assembly, which has not been implemented–that is where we had hoped that the addition would be paid.

“So, to the extent that the money has not been released, there is no way we can make the payment. We told them it is wrong and we tried to prevail on them to try to see through things in the correct way.”

-Sun

]]>http://newnigerianpolitics.com/2018/12/05/nass-workers-revolt-say-no-pay-no-sitting/feed/0a:7:{s:4:"lang";s:2:"en";s:8:"keywords";s:66:"workers,national,staff,assembly,management,saraki,chambers,demands";s:19:"keywords_autoupdate";i:1;s:11:"description";s:159:"workers made good their threat to shut down the third arm of government, yesterday, in protest against unpaid salaries and eight-year-old backlog of allowances";s:22:"description_autoupdate";i:1;s:5:"title";s:0:"";s:6:"robots";s:12:"index,follow";}After I spent N400m per state, Buhari refused to give appointments –Sarakihttp://newnigerianpolitics.com/2018/11/18/after-i-spent-n400m-per-state-buhari-refused-to-give-appointments-saraki/
http://newnigerianpolitics.com/2018/11/18/after-i-spent-n400m-per-state-buhari-refused-to-give-appointments-saraki/#respondSun, 18 Nov 2018 13:34:31 +0000http://newnigerianpolitics.com/?p=51458

Eniola Akinkuotu, Abuja

Senate President Bukola Saraki says the people of Kwara would not have been suffering today if they had been given enough federal appointments.

Saraki said had Kwara people been given appointments, they would have been able to approve money for party supporters which would have eased their sufferings.

The Senate President was heard saying this in an audio clip while addressing Peoples Democratic Party members recently.

The audio was first posted by blogger, Kayode Ogundamisi, on his verified Twitter handle.

Saraki said during the run-up to the 2015 general elections, he campaigned for President Muhammadu Buhari in every state of the country except the six South-West states.

He said he spent between N200m and N400m per state with the hope that when the All Progressives Congress got into office, party faithful would be rewarded either financially or through appointments.

The Senate President, however, said Buhari decided to punish the people of the state by starving them of appointments.

Saraki said, “What is the benefit of people that are campaigning for the APC? What is their track record? Use me as an example. When I left the PDP for the APC in 2014 and was campaigning for the APC like never before, we went to every state to campaign with Buhari up until the election time.

“Out of the 36 states, I paid election money in 30. Some collected N300m while some collected N400m, some collected N200m. The only states, where I had nothing to do with was in the South-West.

“Even on the phone I was calling and giving banks instructions. Our thinking was that when we get elected, we would get the majority of appointments. I even told majority of you then that we shall all be going to Abuja together after the election.

“I thought some of you will be appointed to head federal agencies like road maintenance, like FERMA, NITDA, NPA and others. Because I know that if any Kwara son becomes even just the ED of UBEC, I know what he can approve from his desk. Whether N1m or N2m.

“But for the first time, since we joined politics, you have a President of the Senate or even speaker that cannot appoint a cleaner. I am not referring to board appointments like board appointment which just collect money per sitting. If you look at the agencies they appoint executive positions, what do you want me to say?”

-Punch

]]>http://newnigerianpolitics.com/2018/11/18/after-i-spent-n400m-per-state-buhari-refused-to-give-appointments-saraki/feed/0a:7:{s:4:"lang";s:2:"en";s:8:"keywords";s:59:"appointments,president,said,like,people,saraki,senate,state";s:19:"keywords_autoupdate";i:1;s:11:"description";s:154:"appointments. Saraki said had Kwara people been given appointments, they would have been able to approve money for party supporters which would have eased";s:22:"description_autoupdate";i:1;s:5:"title";s:0:"";s:6:"robots";s:12:"index,follow";}Saraki heads Atiku Campaign Council, Fayose, Wike, Ortom, others named as membershttp://newnigerianpolitics.com/2018/10/16/saraki-heads-atiku-campaign-council-fayose-wike-ortom-others-named-as-members/
http://newnigerianpolitics.com/2018/10/16/saraki-heads-atiku-campaign-council-fayose-wike-ortom-others-named-as-members/#respondTue, 16 Oct 2018 13:13:56 +0000http://newnigerianpolitics.com/?p=51299

Senate President Bukola Saraki was, on Tuesday, named the Director-General of the Atiku Presidential Campaign Council by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

PDP chairman, Uche Secondus, shared the news on his Twitter handle, @uchesecondus. He shared a list of party members, who have been picked to be part of the campaign team of the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

READ ALSO:

He said, “After due consultation with party stakeholders, PDP, under my leadership has approved the following as members of Atiku Presidential Campaign Council.”

President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki as Director General of Atiku Presidential Campaign Council.

Governor Aminu Tambuwal as the Zonal Coordinator for NorthWest.

Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo as Zonal Coordinator for NorthEast.

Governor Samuel Ortom as the Zonal Coordinator for NorthCentral

Governor Dave Umahi as the Zonal Coordinator for SouthEast.

Barrister Nyesom Wike as the Zonal Coordinator for SouthSouth

Governor Ayodele Fayose is the Zonal Coordinator for the SouthWest.

Barr Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, SAN, Chairman, Legal Matters.

Governor Udom Emmanuel as the Chairman, Fund Raising.

-Sun

]]>http://newnigerianpolitics.com/2018/10/16/saraki-heads-atiku-campaign-council-fayose-wike-ortom-others-named-as-members/feed/0a:7:{s:4:"lang";s:2:"en";s:8:"keywords";s:71:"zonal,governor,coordinator,atiku,campaign,presidential,chairman,council";s:19:"keywords_autoupdate";i:1;s:11:"description";s:156:"zonal coordinators. See the list as released by Secondus: President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki as Director General of Atiku Presidential Campaign Council.";s:22:"description_autoupdate";i:1;s:5:"title";s:0:"";s:6:"robots";s:12:"index,follow";}Dancing Senator: Exam Malpractice: Buhari Orders Police to Suspend Adeleke’s Criminal Investigationhttp://newnigerianpolitics.com/2018/09/20/dancing-senator-exam-malpractice-buhari-orders-police-to-suspend-adelekes-criminal-investigation/
http://newnigerianpolitics.com/2018/09/20/dancing-senator-exam-malpractice-buhari-orders-police-to-suspend-adelekes-criminal-investigation/#respondThu, 20 Sep 2018 10:44:50 +0000http://newnigerianpolitics.com/?p=51153

President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, to suspend the investigation of Sen. Ademola Adeleke, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Osun governorship candidate in the Sept. 22 election, on alleged exam malpractice.

The I-G had on Sept. 19 summoned Adeleke and four others to report to the police Special Investigation Panel at the Abuja headquarters for arraignment in court.

He and the other suspects will face a charge of examination malpractice, criminal conspiracy, impersonation.

But, a source in the presidency confirmed to newsmen that President Buhari had ordered the I-G to stop the invitation of the PDP candidate until after the Sept. 22 governorship election in Osun.

“The President has ordered that Adeleke should not be invited until after Saturday’s election,’’ he said.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Ag. DCP Jimoh Moshood, had in a statement invited Adeleke and four others namely; Mr. Sikiru Adeleke, Alhaji Aregbesola Mufutau (Principal of Ojo-Aro Community Grammar School, Egbedore LGA, Osun State), Mr. Gbadamosi Thomas Ojo (School Staff responsible for the registration of candidates for NECO), Mr. Dare Olutope (School Teacher, who facilitated the commission of the crime) to report to the Special Investigation Panel, Force Headquarters, Abuja immediately for arraignment in court.

The Police statement read: “ On 21st July 2017, the Osun State Police Intelligence Bureau (SIB) received and acted on an actionable intelligence about an ongoing examination malpractice involving Senator Ademola Adeleke and Sikiru Adeleke at Ojo/Aro Community Grammar School in Osun state.

“When the Police operative arrived at the school, only Sikiru Adeleke was found seated for the examination while Senator Ademola Adeleke seat was vacant and was suspected to have escaped before the arrival of the Police operatives.

“Further investigation revealed that both Senator Ademola Adeleke and his brother Sikiru Adeleke registered and were sitting for the National Examination Council Examination (NECO) 2017 as internal candidates impersonating students of the School at the ages of 57years and 42years respectively.

“This crime was facilitated by the principal of the school, and two other members of staff of the school for which they are under investigation and being charged to court.

“The Principal of the school, Alhaji Aregbesola Mufutau, the staff responsible for registration, Mr Gbadamosi Thomas Ojo and a teacher Mr Dare Olutope were arrested on 21 July 2017.

“Senator Ademola Adeleke was arrested on 27 July 2017 and Sikiru Adeleke was arrested on 8 August 2017.

“Senator Ademola Adeleke made cautionary statement and admitted that he registered for the 2017 NECO examinations as an internal student in the said school but he didn’t sit for the examination.

“However, Police investigation revealed the following primafacial and culpability facts against Senator Ademola Adeleke and four (4) others.

“Senator Ademola Adeleke made cautionary statement and admitted that he registered for the 2017 NECO examinations as an internal student in the said school and did not sit for the examination but have a result from NECO with Seven (7) Credit and One (1) Pass, a copy of which was obtained from NECO by the Police.

“The Ojo/Aro 2017 NECO, SSCE school photo album (School’s copy), with Senator Ademola Adeleke and Sikiru Adeleke Photographs in school uniform in the said album.

“Senator Ademola Adeleke in the NECO 2017 Result obtained by the claimed that he was born on 12th June 1997 but in his statement to the Police, senator Ademola Adeleke wrote 13th May 1960 as his Date of Birth.

“The photographs of both Senator Ademola Adeleke and Sikiru Adeleke appearing side by side in the photo album have no NECO stamps on them.

“ Senator Ademola Adeleke and four others were arrested, investigated, granted bail and being charged to court.

The judge, Mr Abdulwahab Mohammed, said the defendant was absent on the last adjourned date of September 11, but his counsel, Eze Oguaju promised to make him available today, September18.

Mohammed issued a bench warrant against the defendant and entered a plea of not guilty for the other defendants, relying on Section 478 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act.

The section provides that a court shall order a plea of not guilty to be entered and the trial shall proceed as though the corporation involved had duly entered a plea of not guilty.

The judge adjourned the matter until September 25 for hearing.

Chitex Ventures Ltd and Chima Akuzie, the complainants, had made a Direct Criminal Complaint against the defendants over alleged issuance of a UBA N200 million dud cheque.

The complainant’s counsel, Oluwatosin Ojaomo, had earlier urged the court to invoke the provisions of Section 131 of the ACJA against the defendant, by issuing a warrant of arrest against the defendant.

He further stated that the defendants were absent in court in spite the fact that they were aware of today’s date, September 18 fixed for definite arraignment.

(NAN).

]]>http://newnigerianpolitics.com/2018/09/18/court-orders-arrest-of-senator-uzodinma/feed/0a:7:{s:4:"lang";s:2:"en";s:8:"keywords";s:60:"court,defendant,cheque,defendants,dud,entered,guilty,million";s:19:"keywords_autoupdate";i:1;s:11:"description";s:152:"Court, Abuja, on Tuesday issued a bench warrant for the arrest of Senator Hope Uzodinma, accused of issuing N200 million dud cheque. Uzodinma, a serving";s:22:"description_autoupdate";i:1;s:5:"title";s:0:"";s:6:"robots";s:12:"index,follow";}Saraki replies not too Young to run, says declaration ‘Made in Good Faith’http://newnigerianpolitics.com/2018/08/31/saraki-replies-not-too-young-to-run-says-declaration-made-in-good-faith/
http://newnigerianpolitics.com/2018/08/31/saraki-replies-not-too-young-to-run-says-declaration-made-in-good-faith/#respondFri, 31 Aug 2018 11:55:15 +0000http://newnigerianpolitics.com/?p=51042— 31st August 2018

Senate President Bukola Saraki has responded to a statement by the Not Too Young To Run movement in reaction to the declaration of his intention to run for the presidency in 2019.

His response was contained in a statement signed on Friday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Yusuph Olaniyonu, a day after the movement condemned his action.

Senator Saraki said his action was not to put the group in any position but that he made the declaration in good faith.

“It is true that the Not Too Young To Run leadership had no prior knowledge of the content of the Senate President’s remarks,” the statement said.

“However, the announcement by the Senate President that he intends to throw his hat into the ring to contest for the Presidency was made in good faith to young PDP aspirants, partly as a symbolic act of encouragement.

“It was not the intent of the Senate President to put the group or its leadership in an invidious position,” it added.

The Senate President explained that the occasion where he declared his intention to run for the presidency was first in a series of dialogues organised by the Not Too Young To Run along party lines.

He said the first was for young aspirants on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) while the subsequent ones were designed for those of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and other parties.

Senator Saraki, however, appreciated the contribution of Not Too Young To Run to the development of the nation’s democracy.

He promised to continue working closely with young people across the country, in order to make Nigeria a better place for all citizens.

The Senate President had announced that he was joining the race for the presidency in the 2019 elections while delivering a keynote address at an event organised by the Not Too Young To Run Movement on Thursday in Abuja.

The group swiftly issued a statement and dissociated itself from Saraki’s declaration. They noted that they had no prior knowledge of the declaration.

It said it was shocked that the lawmaker would usurp a platform for youth engagement with political parties to declare his candidacy.

-Sun

]]>http://newnigerianpolitics.com/2018/08/31/saraki-replies-not-too-young-to-run-says-declaration-made-in-good-faith/feed/0a:7:{s:4:"lang";s:2:"en";s:8:"keywords";s:64:"young,run,senate,president,declaration,presidency,said,statement";s:19:"keywords_autoupdate";i:1;s:11:"description";s:156:"Young To Run movement in reaction to the declaration of his intention to run for the presidency in 2019. His response was contained in a statement signed on";s:22:"description_autoupdate";i:1;s:5:"title";s:0:"";s:6:"robots";s:12:"index,follow";}‘Concerned Nigerians’ list 13 reasons Saraki cannot be presidenthttp://newnigerianpolitics.com/2018/08/20/concerned-nigerians-list-13-reasons-saraki-cannot-be-president/
http://newnigerianpolitics.com/2018/08/20/concerned-nigerians-list-13-reasons-saraki-cannot-be-president/#respondMon, 20 Aug 2018 14:37:35 +0000http://newnigerianpolitics.com/?p=50988coalition of groups, under the umbrella of Concerned Nigerians against Saraki (CNAS), has listed a number of reasons it is against the presidential bid of the Senate President, Bukola Saraki.

A few days ago, Saraki alluded to his decision to contest Nigeria’s presidential seat in the forthcoming elections, in an interview with Bloomberg, held at his Abuja residence.

When asked if he would contest, Saraki said: “I am consulting and actively considering it. I believe I can make the change.”

CNAS, in the statement, however, cited various reasons Saraki should not run for the office of the Presidency, making particular references to several corruption allegations levelled against him.

Citing his alleged link to the robbery in Offa, Kwara State; allegations of fraud during his time at the Société Générale Bank Nigeria Limited; issues relating to the Panama Papers investigation, among others, the group stated that the Senate President “cannot be trusted with the national treasury of the people’s mandate.”

Below is the full text the statement by Concerned Nigerians against Saraki (CNAS):

Société Générale Bank Nigeria Limited collapsed under the watch of Saraki and his family. Bukola Saraki was Director of the defunct bank between 2002 and 2003. Allegations of fraud still trail them till today, while the bank’s shareholders and customers suffered losses in millions. Over N1bn was alleged to have been looted from the SGB treasury. The EFCC charged Saraki to court for alleged fraud. Eight of the 30-count charge were directed at Saraki alone, and three solely for the defunct bank’s MD.

There are claims that the Saraki family liquidated SGB to fund Bukola Saraki’s governorship campaign in Kwara State. The Senate President, Saraki, has been doing the same, dipping into the nation’s treasury and taxpayers’ funds through fraudulent juicy allocations to him and his cronies.

During his two-terms as governor between 2003 and 2011, Bukola Saraki converted by unscrupulous means Kwara State Government funds into his personal cash cow. He dipped his hand into the Kwara treasury at will and disregarded government due process, while he allegedly converted Kwara State government assets into his own or for his cronies.

Saraki cannot be trusted with the national treasury of the people’s mandate. He has a history of betrayals trailing him. He reportedly slapped a commissioner under his administration for being more loyal to Bukola Saraki’s own father than to him. Bukola Saraki betrayed his family – father (late Waziri of Ilorin, Dr. Olusola Saraki) and sister – because of his greed, arrogance and devilish thirst for power. He did the same when he defected from APC to PDP despite being elected as Senate President under the APC and does not obey the rule of law as he operates with impunity to those who go against his wishes. He will do the same if elected president, betray the Nigerian people.

In 2012, Saraki, was questioned by the Special Fraud Unit of the Nigeria Police in Lagos, in relation to a N11 billion financial scandal at the defunct Intercontinental Bank Plc. Inside sources said Saraki was able to get away with the scandal due to his connections in government then.

Saraki was linked to the ‘EFCC wanted Kennedy Izuagbe’, a former director of Societe Generale Bank Nigeria Plc. Societe Generale Bank is owned by Saraki’s late father, Olusola Saraki. Mr. Izuagbe, 45, was being investigated in a case of conspiracy and money laundering to the tune of over N3.6 billion.

Bukola Saraki as Governor in Kwara State saw to the enactment of a fraudulent executive bill that allotted to himself huge sums and other privileges in form of pensions and salary as an ex-governor.

Saraki’s tenure as governor was described by some persons in the state as “self-serving, self-seeking and selfish.

Investigation uncovered Saraki’s hidden assets, including London property in the name of Toyin Saraki but which was left out among the assets declared by the Senate President. Some of them are as follows:

* The hidden property is located at #8 Whuttaker Street, Belgravia, London SW1W 8JQ. It has title number NGL802235. The first, Girol Properties Ltd, was registered on August 25, 2004, (a year after Mrs. Saraki’s husband became governor of Kwara State) in the British Virgin Island (BVI).

* Company documents show that Mrs. Saraki owns 25,000 numbers of shares.

* According to TI, Land Registry documents show that the houses at 7 and 8 Whittaker Street, Belgravia, London are owned by Landfield International Developments Limited and Renocon Property Development Limited. Based on current market estimates by Zoopla, the properties are worth a combined total of around £15 million.

* As part of the Panama Papers revelations, these companies were controlled by Toyin Saraki, the wife of the President of the Nigerian Senate, Bukola Saraki, as well as one of his personal aides. At the time of these revelations, none of the offshore holdings were reported in Mr. Saraki’s official asset declarations.

* In 2003, his asset declaration showed he had amassed tens of millions of pounds worth of assets during his time as Director of Société Générale Bank and Special Assistant to the President on Budget. The explanation he provided for these acquisitions was stated simply as “business”.

Saraki was again caught in the web of “falsification of Senate standing order’ with the Police investigating the matter and submitting its report to the office of the Attorney General of the Federation.

Saraki was accused of ‘falsification of asset declaration’ by the Code of Conduct Bureau. The CCB had levelled a 13-count corruption charge against the Senate President.

Saraki is linked to $19.5b Paris Club Loan Refund scandal in which he was alleged to have received $2.5b from the amount embezzled.

-Saharareporters

]]>http://newnigerianpolitics.com/2018/08/20/concerned-nigerians-list-13-reasons-saraki-cannot-be-president/feed/0a:7:{s:4:"lang";s:2:"en";s:8:"keywords";s:58:"saraki,president,bukola,saraki’s,senate,kwara,bank,state";s:19:"keywords_autoupdate";i:1;s:11:"description";s:158:"Saraki (CNAS), has listed a number of reasons it is against the presidential bid of the Senate President, Bukola Saraki. A few days ago, Saraki alluded to his";s:22:"description_autoupdate";i:1;s:5:"title";s:0:"";s:6:"robots";s:12:"index,follow";}